Display apparatus



W- R. AIMES AND G. H. T. SCHAEFER.

Patented Aug. 30, 192i.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Gauge HT. Schaefer J I flMO'I/MQAQQ w WM 5% .m R i 253 a u 2 5 5 1 w i v w p w 43%; Tn? NZH ,I 5111 g 6 6 2 a 4 5 1 W. R. AIMES AND G. H. T. SCHAEFER.

DISPLAY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19, 19:9.

E H.T. Elma??? a SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Mme/q Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

William am 'W. R. AlMES AND G. H. T. SCHAEFER.

DISPLAY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED }U| .Y 19. I919.

Patenmd Au 30, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 r-r-a 1 @Blioumup UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM R. AIMES AND GEORGE H. T. SCHAEFER. OF .ATCHISON, KANSAS.

DISPLAY APPARATUS.

Application filed July 19,

T011 whom if not]; (mir /n:

Be it known that we. WILLIAM ll. Aunts anti Guiana: ll. '1. fiviiiizrmi. ritizens of the United States. residing at Atehison. in the county of Atehison and State of Kansas. have inventeil rertain new and useful linproveinents in Display Apparatus. of \vhieh the following a speeitiratiou.

This invention relates to an apparz'ltus or device h v means oi whiih .i live mannt'aeturers ailvertis nu-nl may he ilispla veil. or a plurality ot entertaining features. worcling or illustrations anil llt'HrriptioHF of proresses of manutaeture. or the like may he displayed. and an ohierz ot the invention is to provide a display apparatus roniprising an einiless apron or helt. whieh travels ovt a plurality of guiding rollers illli'l is IllUVPtl past a lliS- playing winilow. anal also to proville, a strut." ture Controlling the movement of the eniliess apron or helt win-rein the movement there of will he intermittent. the said movement heing arresteil when eat-h ilispia r upon the endless helt or apron is positioneil ilirertly behind the ilisplav winilow. llllll also to eonstrnct the enilless lie-it or apron ot tlexihle material. pretera :lv ranvas. so that the clesigns or advertisements may he painted lireetly upon the ranvas. or posters. photographs or printeil matter may he pastetl or Otherwise anitahly attai-heil to the apron for movement therewlth. surh pasting or attarhin; of posters. printeil matter in photographs permitting tinehair 'ing ol the illsplays earriial h the en lless helt or apron Strueture.

A further ohiert of this invention is tr. associate a plurality of these eniiless helt structures in a single display rahinet. anll to proviilemeans1m-eontrollingthe movement: of the tlillltHs hell oi aprons. so that two of them will he he-hi stationary. at all times. while the other moving or. when more than three ol the aprons are proviihal to earry out the same ratio throughout the en ti!" ilispla apparatus. the saiil rontr l means hein arrangeil wherehy the n'iorement of the sureesshe or next apron will he Started immediately prior to the arresting of the nmvenient ot' the ])I'lt(llllg apron or helc.

A further ohjet't of this invention is to mount the upper uiiling roller oi the rearmost run ot the endless helt or apron so that it may he swung out *arilly through a door opening in the rear of the cabinet to Specification of Letters Patentv Patented Aug. 30. 1921.

1919. Serial ,No. 312.004.

permit of the ehanging of the ilisplav upon the auras. whieh features also leiicls the display apparatus for use as a rhaaigeahle ehart or hlaehhoartl. enahlin; the owner or operator of tile derive to write various silh- ]ert matter upon the endless helt o' apron. which Snhjeei matter is snhseqneiitlv exhihiteil iluring the operation of the tlt'Vllk, thereby providing a ilevire whiwh is partirie i:LI'l v atlnpteil F r use in mm'ehant-. in the whool room, or for politiral pnrp 'ises further ohjeet of the intention is to provide. a eahinet. which inelot es the endless apron or helt. therehy llil'tlltt'lliif the when tising matter enrihal hv tl= weather ((HhllliUIiS. anti to Iearing blurring. or niutiia inn" oi the poster. or other matter exhii lllltl. hv the Weather. and also inereasing the ioneevitv of the device. while the regular appearanrli ol' the various displays hehiiul thrii reapertive display a inilowe. owing to the (hangeabiiity will ha \e inereaseil attraet'ion for the public over the stationary or wrmanent bill hoards.

Other objert of The invention will appear in the following eietaiieil ilesrription taken in eonneetion with'the aeeoinpanying el!:\w ings. forming a part of this speeitit-ation. and in whieh drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the i111- roveil ilisplav apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a vertiral longitlnlinul sert'ion through the ral inet illustrating the clisplirving helts anil their operating iawhauisms in front elevation.

Fig. 3 is vertiral eross set-lion through the display apparatus. illustrating the move ment of one of the endless helts or aprons.

Fig. -l is 11 vertieal rross set-lion through the apparatus illu trating the operating nieehanisni. anll Fig. 5 is an enlargeil 'tragnienlary view partly in Sertion illustrating ill-tails ol' the operating inerhauisni and rontrol for the movement 01' the enilleas apron or helt.

Referring more partirularly io the iirawlugs. wherein like rhara ters imiirale like ilIltl (-orrespomlin; parts throughout the severai views Ill imlieates the housing or eahi net of the display apparatus whieh is preferahly eonstrnrteil so as to present an artis' tie appearanee at its outer exhihiteil side or front. and this eahinet is lliiillei'l intr'i a plurality of ronipartnients ll. 12 aml 13. hr partitions 14, and 15. Howe'veiu it is to from latte lin he understood that while three rompartments are illustrated in the drawings, any desired number of these mnipartments may be employed, without departing from the spirit of this invention. lint-h of the eoni partmenls, has an opening in its front wall Whirl} earries a frame 16. having :2 pane or window 1 of glass or other analogous transparent material rarried therehy. The frames ill, are hingedly l'ounel'lwi to the ubluet 15 shown at in and n shield or relleetor 15! extends about the edges ol these l nines, forming means for dellerting light rnys from tho illuminating lamps ill through the window upon, the subjert. matter displayed from behind the window.

Eaeh of the Compartments ll, 12 nd 1 contain an individual displaying; struc-ture eorngiiri ing belt 21. whieh tra'r els over n pl ralitr ol upper rolh 5 iii, 24 127i and 13%? and z: plurality of lower rollel's i7 rorrespouding in number to the up These upper rollers 2Q, 23. El have radial spurs or teeth 2% t peripheries at their ends. or teet engage through the HIlQQH of tilt ilhese edges of per rolle' i. 13-3 and Y l'orinetl also: :lIi l openings h I39 i l'llll l :lloig endless belt or :ipron it. the endless helt or apron it are reinforrwl by relatively narrow hells ll!) whivh are oi ter tliii'ltness than the apron E31 and Hrahlv made ol' stronger material, the on .fpreferahly Swing made of canvas, e these side belts may be leather, liearier iabril; or any an igous material to prevent the tearing thereof} by the engage merit of the teeth i through the opening 131?. The reariuost upper roller Ell is lfzll'llOtl by a shaft ll whirli is: in turn supported by n frame This Frame 32 is pivoted upon upon whivh the rezirniost lower 7 The -s"zibinei, t? is prw i. is mounted. riiltwl u itli .F door t in its rear side, whirli may he opened ['1' permit the frame 32 to he swung: outwardly out of the rabinet as lililii'zilill in dotted lin in FigAil ol' the, it'll to permit :o' r'ss to the upwardl t tin .13 run ill l' the rem-m st p rtion of the endless apron or belt '31 to permit the liningof Elie display mat rial thereon.

l tirtjiiig Hltill lfs" Ill of ti e l'f'llliff'g fill A} and it. are supported by hearing rolls JET iii- 1 are vit-hlably supported lrv means of sprirgs the said springs allowing \iehialde wl movement of the upper rollers to i onihodate the eYpanslon or mutt-anion th endl ss belt 21.

vhirb rarries the front up per roller a liilllej? ll mounted there on about iv e hell l2 tarelsi This helt 42 also irate houi a pulley 1- 5 whirh is varriell In; a shut? H, A relatively large pulley 45 is also mounted upon the Shaft ll and has operative ronnei'tiou by means of a belt lll with the motor 47 which operates the display devire. This motor or prime mover 1? may be an eleetriv motor, hand power motor'or any desired type of prime mover. The pulley s 1 rotatably mounted upon the shaft 40 and carries a l'llltCh section 18 adapted for coai'tifin with a (bitch section t!) which tnithered upon the shaft l and provided with an annular channel 5*) \Vlllill is keyed therein, the forked end 51 of the shifting; lever This shifting lever 52 is pirotally supported as shown at m from a supporting bar 54. This supporting hair til is supported by the shaft 10 and the shaft 55', whit'th entries t e, foremost,

Fi l

rut] oil-l; this lever v moving the wlutrh seetion in into operalire (*I'iljtflflflt'l'lt with the vlutr-h section 1* thereby rotating the shall i and C0114 seipiently the roller 42 by the rotation of the puller l1. ini 'iarting movement to the endless apron or hell ll. flit-n the lower rial ol thrshilling lever 52 engaging the lower portion of the M1111 surl'are 55 the lever will be lElHH to pull the elntrh set-lion if out of opersitire vonneetion with the i-lul l: section 43 at whirl time the move- H'it'lll ol' the endless belt or apron 21 will be arrested. The wheel or dish 5i) has n plurality ol radiating arms (to ('illllell by its periphery whit'h arms are engaged by arms il t'll'l'ltll by the endless belt or apron 21 for partially rotating the wheels 5?? during the movement of the endless bell ii to properly operate or rontrol the operation or movement of the endless belt to rause it to be arrested when earh individual clisplzrv there of is positioned behind the window 11. The arms til are plarwl upon the belt 35 at the beginning or slightly in adrnnee ol iiH'll in dividual exhibit wherein nim'enient of the h ll be properly Pontrolled.

in a multiple mat-blue or display appara tus as illustrated in the drawings the raised portions fill of the ram surfaces :35 are ar ranged so that the operation of the various endless hells will be sueeessire and ilfllllttlb atrly prior to the arresting of the movement operation of the first belt. the semnd one will start to operating or moving for moving on indirillual display behind its respertire window. and the third bell will remain stationary during the ltlijr'ifilltllt of the second belh as will also the first belt then when the soeond belt has rear'herl a proper position tor displaying a subsequent individual displa},

the third belt will start operating to change the exhibiting display thereon, at which time the first and second belts will remain stationary. When the third belt has moved suflicient to change the individual display exhibited, the raised portion 59 of the cam surface 55 of the wheel 56 thereof will have moved out of engagement with the shifting lever 52 of this unit of the mechanism allowing the arresting of the movement thereof, and immediately prior to the arresting of this movement the clutch levers 52 of the first unit will have been shifted to start the operation of the first endless belt, thereby one of the belts will be constantly in motion while the other two are stationary.

The foremost of the lower rollers 27 is positioned directly beneath the foremost upper rollers 22, so that the upwardly traveling forward run of the endless belt or apron 21 will move vertically and stand vertically behind the window 17, and by particular reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings, it will be noted that the apron or belt travels from the rearmost lower roller 27 directly to the foremost lower roller 27 and then in sinuous manner alternately about the upper and lower rollers. By providing the plurality of upper and lower rollers, the links of the apron or belt may be increased, thereby providing or permitting the exhibiting of a greater number of advertisements or display subject matter behind each of the windows 17.

In operation, the shaft 4 is rotated from the prime mover 47 and the pulley 41 is rotated from the shaft 44 so that when the clutch section 49 is in meshing engagement with the clutch section 48, the roller 22 will be positively rotated, and will move the endless apron or belt 21 through the engagement of the seat 28 at the ends of the roller in the opening 29. Assuming that the belt. 21 of the first unit of the display apparatus is moved first; when the endless belt 21 has been moved sutlicient distance to place an individual display unit thereon behind the window 1?, the lower portion of the cam surface will have moved so that the lower end of the clutch shifting lever 52 will be in engagement therewith, which will allow the lever to be rocked under action of the spring 57 dist'vonnecting the clutch sections 18 and 49 and consequently arresting movement of the endless belt 21. All of the wheels or disks 56 are mounted upon the shaft 58 and the raised portions 59 of the cam surfac'es thereof are arranged so that immediately prior to the operating of the lever 52 of the first unit will disconnect the two clutch sections 48, and 49 thereof, the lever 52 of the second or next unit will be operated to connect the clutch sections 48 and 49 of this unit which will start the operation of the endless belt in the second unit. The rotation of the wheels or disks 56 will then be taken up and continued b Y the engagement of an arm 61 carried by the belt 21 of the second unit, an arm of the belt of the first unit which was previously operating these wheels having moved out of engagement with the pin (ill of its respective wheel 56. After the belt 21 of the second unit has moved a suflicient distance to place an individual display unit thereof, behind its respective window 17, the operation of the device will be carried to the third unit in the same manner heretofore described, and from the third unit it will be carried over to the first unit or to a fourth unit, depending upon the number of units employed in the advertising display apparatus.

Changes in details maybe made without departing fromthe spirit of this invention, but;

I claim:

1. In a. display apparatus, the combination of a cabinet having a display window therein a door in the back of said cabinet, an endless belt traveling in a plurality of substantially vertical runs within said cabi' net, means for moving said belt past said window, the rear-most run of said belt being pivot-ally supported "whereby it may be moved outwardly through the door opening in the rear of said cabinet.

2. in a display apparatus, the combination of a cabinet having a display window therein, a door in the back of said cabinet, an endless belt traveling in a plurality of substantially vertical runs within said cabinet, means for moving said belt past said window, the rearmost run of said belt being pivotally supported whereby it may be moved outwardly through the door opening in the rear of said cabinet, and means for moving said belt, and means controlling said moving means for automatically arresting movement of the belt at predetermined intervals.

3. In a display device, the combination of a plurality of endless belts arranged side by side, a prime mover, an operating shaft arranged transversely of the belts, means operatively connecting the operating shaft and the prime mover, an operating roller for each of said belts. means operatively connecting the operating shaft with each of the rollers, said means including sliding clutches, a controlling shaft arranged transversely of the belt, operating means secured to the controlling shaft for independently operating each of said clutches, and means carried by the belts for engaging said operating means.

at. In a display device, the combination of a cabinet having display windows, of a plurality of endless belts carrying a plurality of individual display units adapted for display through said windows. an operating shaft arranged longitudinally of the cabinet and transversely of the belts, means for operating said operating shaft, an operating roller for each of said belts, a. pulley disposed adjacent to each one of said rollers, clutch means for connecting the rollers to ezu-h of said pulleys. a controlling shaft arranged longitudinally of the cabinet and transversely of the belts, an operating lever for each one of said clutches, a. cam wheel for operating' each one of the clutch levers rigidly secured to said controlling shaft, radially extending pins carried by each one of said cam wheels, and outstanding arms earried by each one of said belts for engaging the arms of said cam wheels.

5. In a display device, the combination of a rabinet provided with a plurality of display windows. a plurality of endless belts for movement behind said display windows and moving in a plurality of vertical runs within the cabinet, said cabinet provided with door openings in its rear Sides, the Itzll'llinst pair of vertical runs of said belt being pivot-ally supported. whereby they may be moved outwardly through said door opening to permit access thereto.

6. In a display device, the combination of a eabinet provided with a plurality of dis play windows, a plurality of endless belts for movement behind said display windows, and moving in a plurality of vertiral runs within the cabinet, said cabinet provided with door openings in its rear sides. the rearmost pair of vertical runs. of said belts being pivotally supported. whereby they may be moved outwardly through said door opening to permit access thereto, means for moving said belts. means for controlling the movement of the belts whereby the belts will be intermittently moved. and eontrol means arranged to permit surressive movement of the belts.

in a display device. the combination oi a cabinet provided with a phirality of dis play windows. a plurality of endless belts for movement behind said display windows, and moving in a plurality of vertical runs within the rabinet. said cabinet provided with d or openings in its rear sides, the rearmost pair of vertical runs of said belts being pivot-ally supported. whereby they may be moved outwardly through said door opening to permit aeeess thereto. means for moving said belts. means for controlling the movement of the belts whereby the belts will be intermittently nioved, control means arranged to permit successive movement of the belts. said control means arranged whereby when one f the belts is in mollon. the other will be stationary.

In a display device, the rombination of a cabinet provided with. a plurality of display windows. a plurality of endless belts for movement behind said display \viIIdOW v and moving in a plurality of vertical runs within the cabinet, said cabinet provided with door openings in its rear sides, the rearmost pair of vertical runs of said belts being pivotally supported, whereby they may be moved outwardly through said door opening to permit aeeess thereto, meansfor moving said belts. means for controlling the movement of the bells whereby the belts will be intermittently moved, control means arranged to permit successive movement of the belts. said ontrol. means arranged whereby when one of the belts in motion. the other will be stationary, and means carried by said belts for operating said con: trol means.

9. In a display device. the combinatiim, of a plurality of endless belts. an operating roller for each of said belts, a prime mover, independent means operatively ronuecting said prime move' and each of said rollers for moving said belts upon rotation of the rollers, rllitches for controlling the conned tion between the prime move! and each of the rollers, so that mmenient f the belts nan be arrested for a predrtermiinjal interval, and means Carried by each of the belts for oper ating said elntehes.

it]. In a display devil-o. tin rombination of a plurality of endless belts, an operating roller for each of said belts. a prime mover. a clutch mechanism for eslablisliou open ative ('UIillLCtiUll between eavh of said rollers and the prime mover. a rlutrh shitting lever for each oi the clutches. a wheel for each of the clutches having; a am surface thereon for engaging a portion of with lunof the clutch shifting levers so that the clothes will be operated during the rotation ol l wheels to rontrol the rotation oi" the rollers and movement oi the belt. means opel'atively i-onnceting the wheels ton for rotating said whee ll. In a display do oi an endless belt, :1 mile; belt. a prime mover, a rlutrh nism for establishing operative vonm-vtion between said roller and prime mover. :1 vlutrh shill ingz lever. a wheel having a rain tirlare there on against which a portion oi said rlntrh shifting lever engages. wlierebv the -lu eh will be operated during: rotation oi aid wheel to control the rotation ol' the roller and movement of the bolt. a plurality of radiat in lingers carried by said \Vllttl. and liars carried by said belt at paced intervals for engaging said "d'liljt'i to rotate the wheel upon nmvement ot the belt.

1:3 ln a display derive. the rombination ol' an endless belt. a roller tor moving said belt. a prion:- mover. a rluhh mechanism for establishing! operative vonnertion between said roller and prime mover. :1 vi: trh shittin; lever. a wheel having, a ram suri'are thereon against whirl] a portion of said clutch shifting lever engages. whereby the clutch will be operated during rotation of said his.

wheel to control the rotation of the roller and movement of the belt, a plurality of radiatinp lingers carried by said wheels, bars carried by said belt at spaced intervals for engaging said wheel to rotate the wheel upon movement of the belt, a second endless belt, a clutch mechanism establishing communication bet ween said second endless belt and said prime mover, a wheel having a cam surface for controlling operation of the clutch mechanism of the second belt, said last named wheel operatively connected to said first named wheel for rotation therewith, and bars carried by the said named belt for rotating the cam wheel associated therewith, said 0am wheels arranged whereby when the first named belt is in motion, the second named belt will be stationary, and whereby movement will be imparted to the second named belt prior to the arresting; of movement of the first named belt.

13. In a display device, the combination of an endless belt, a roller for moving said belt, a prime mover, a clntclfmechanism for establishing operative connection between said roller and prime mover, a clutch shifting lever, a wheel having a cam surface thereon against which a portion of said clutch shifting lever engages, whereby the clutch will be operated during rotation of said wheel to control the rotation of the roller and movement of the belt, a plurality of radiating fingers carried by said wheels, bars carried by said belt at spaced intervals for engaging said wheel to rotate the wheel upon movement of the belt, a secondendless belt, a clutch mechanism establishing communication between said second endless belt and said prime mover a wheel having a cam surface for controlling operation of the clutch mechanism of the second belt, said last named wheel operatively connected to said first named wheel for rotation therewith, and bars carried by the said second named belt for rotating the cam wheels associated therewith, said cam wheels arranged Whereby' when the first named belt is in motion, the second named belt will be stationary, and whereby movement will be imparted to the second named belt immediately prior to the arresting of movement of the first named belt, and means for tensionin said belts.

WILLIAM R. AIM 4S. GEORGE H. T. SCHAEFER. 

